2014 is for Triumph the year of only cosmetic changes on all 3 of its classic models.

The Triumph Bonneville keeps its 865 cc parallel-twin, but got a new exhaust for a better growl. Front wheel is no 17″ with lower seat position and a grab rail. Chain guard is now standard. Paint schemes include all black on all blackout bike (bards, wheels, wheels, suspicion components, mirrors, etc, black & gold, white, red.

The Triumph Thruxton offers new cooling fins in machined finish revised sportier riding position, a color-matched fly screen, a revised megaphone silencer said to have a more “liberating sound”, aluminum wheels, chrome chain guard. Colors available are black & green.

The Triumph Scrambler also gets a new seat, a blacked out treatment for most components handlebars, wheel rims, hubs and rear master cylinder reservoir cover, oil lines.) Colors available are red and blue/silver.

Liking the primary cover, even if it is black, it looks like my polished 30 cu.in., rigid frame, ’52 Triumph T-Bird.
And I like the polished aluminum top of the scrambler, and I like the appearance at least of a separate transmission and motor.
Good work Triumph. Stay classic. 🙂

The way Triumph stayed true to the original is a major selling point. You get all the new metallurgy, electronics, etc with all the old styling (and a lot of the original handling, for better or worse).

Sort of a shame Indian didn’t follow through like that. The vintage plunger frame is a rough ride and the new extended wheelbase sure improves the ride too but the new bikes lose something in the improvements. They went like the original VW bug vs the new retro VW bug/beatle. I’ll still give the new Chief a long hard look though!!

Well, the AMA’s 500cc limit on OHV scooters was certainly a disadvantage against class C 750 side valve motors. The little 500s simply ran torque coming out of the turn or ran out-a gear at the end of the back-stretch.

But the problem with the old 650 Triumph design was the sludge trap in the crank, their Achilles Heel. When TT motors, in Berkeley CA called up Big-D (of salt flat fame) asking how come their race bike was continually twisting crankshafts in-two. The dude at Big-D told John Gallivan:
“…congratulations, you’ve c racked the 79 HP barrier… you need to step up to a solid crank…”

A lesson i’m guessing Sonny Rout learned in drag racing. I think it was Rout who sold a limited number of custom cranks for 650.

Bought a T140E from TT Motors back in 1979 and rode it for over 10 years. Finally back riding and happily on a W650 with bevel drive overhead cam at half the price with exceptional fit and finish. Feels just like the T140E without the vibration and oil leaks or hot running engine.
Have ridden the new triumphs. They look good and the frame geometry is modern by comparison to the W650 for sure, but the fit and finish just isn’t there, the bars just got narrower and the pipes are already blue in the promotional pics. Too much money for the same old problems.

It is nice to see the brits back on the scene
Triumph has come a LONG way and is gaining followers
not only withthe lightweights but with the Thunderbird & T-Bird Storm
which have out performed almost every bike put up against it in its class
And the Rocket 3, nothing else short of a Boss Hoss comes close …

Fit and finish is quite good on the Hinckley Triumphs…”EXT-140e” doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Bonnie/Thrux pipes get blue because they are old school single wall pipes, not like modern twin walled pipes….a little blue shows you ride the bike, just like the 60’s. Also the new Bonnies will blow away the W650s and the new W800s, …if you knew what you were talking about you’d also know that the Hinckley Bonnevilles are bulletproof. 100,000 kms widely reported.
Luis, get Bitubo cartridges if you want a modern front end.

I personally wish they would offer a Desert Sled much like the So Cal Streetmaster customs with a CHROME-MOLY, DOUBLE DOWN TUBE FRAME with Sub Frame Oil Cooler and CHROME MOLLY SWINGARM. The current scrambler is just too heavy.

Ed,The modern Bonneville motor is too big and heavy to emulate a lightweight Rickman desert bike,period.You are right in saying the Scrambler is too heavy to stray far from tar.The fitting super expensive drum brakes by Streetmaster,on such a heavy modern bikes is like playing dress-up as a cowboy as a kid:Looks great,but no horsepowers.

bart65,I’ll stand by my comments regarding standard of Bitubo items compared to high-end products and the sporting potential of a modern Thruxton.I’ve ridden a W650,and apart from it looking far more original as a British vertical twin,it was far better to ride compared to a stock Hinckley Bonneville that feels heavy and lethargic in comparison.They are Thai-Rumphs now remember.I have not heard of anyone having motor problems with a W650,like once.

Ya, i gott-a agree there. The original T120 motors were much better suited (weight wise) to light weight dirt bikes.

RE:
“…Bought a T140E from TT Motors back in 1979 ….just like the T140E without the vibration and oil leaks or hot running engine…”

I also bought a T140 from the same place at about the same time….. Root beer with gold panels, “domestic tank & touring bars.” John had two on the floor, you probably got the other one.

Rode the piss out of it and commuted on it very day, rain or shine. I’ve never had any oil leaks or hot engines. It”s sitting out in the garage, ready to run right now.
And yes the pies are blue, but no more bluer than the pipes on the 42FL its parked next to.
…… call it a blue badge of honor….. 🙂

Gotta laugh at Terrence Tory’s pedantics…..like you really disabused us of all our mistaken beliefs that a modern Thruxton is supposed to match up with a Moto GP bike so therefore they’re not valid as a “sporting bike”…you’re a rube…

ps. every published Bonneville – w800 (4 OR 5) compare has the Bonneville leaving the w800 in the dust..plus the bonne has a wide aftermarket speed parts biz..I guess that makes you right and all else wrong terry….LOL. boob

bart65.The Thruxton 900: less than 68 horsepower and 500 pounds plus with gas.I rest my case your honor,in the matter of “sporting Vs reality”.In order to pose and profile on city streets I guess it is a good,low stress choice.Keep an eye out for low flying 300 Ninjas at three o’clock.

I guess you either own one of Hinkleys’ horrors or sell stuff to their owners.Stay in love.There are more quality aftermarket products for Kawa W’s from all around the world than you could possibly imagine.

The standard modern Bonneville offers little,but delivers well as a basic heavy commuter bike with classic looks.The standard Bonneville frame is quite rigid up to a point,but let down by B-grade suspension components and a low tech twin shock rear end.

ED.The So Cal licenced street tracker seems to have a very light and weak frame to my experienced chassis eye.It would be fine to ride to Starbucks if the road was dirt and flat.